Have you ever gotten up in the middle of the night, gone down to your kitchen for a glass of water and turned on your faucet only to be greeted with a scary, guttural sound? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Don’t ignore those strange noises coming from your pipes. They may be trying to tell you that there’s a problem.
Plumbing issues aren’t always apparent on the surface, but you sure can hear them. So, when your pipes start to talk, pay attention. It might be time to call your plumber in for maintenance.
Let’s take a closer look at some of those strange noises that you might hear coming from your pipes and break down what they may be trying to tell you about those greater, hidden problems:
Dripping
You may think that a dripping faucet is no big deal. It’s just a little bit of water after all, right? Wrong. Don’t ignore that little dripping annoyance, no matter how quiet or insignificant it may seem. If you hear dripping water throughout the night or see a dripping faucet, it’s time to call in the professionals. While it may be a simple fix, the fact is, if left untreated, that little drip might end up costing you big time in the long-run. It’s estimated that a single leaky faucet can waste as much as 3,000 gallons of water in one year. Trust us, you don’t want to see that bill!
Rattling & Shaking
Do your plumbing pipes shake and rattle when water drains or when you flush the toilet? Well, that’s not a good noise to hear, as it likely means that your pipes themselves are actually coming loose. If things start to shimmy, you’ll need to make sure that the fittings are properly secured. Tighten things up; it will keep the noise down and ensure that nothing starts to leak, or worse.
Gurgling
If you start to notice a strange, guttural, gurgling gulp coming from your drains, then your vent pipe might be blocked. When this happens, water isn’t able to properly drain through your system. Sometimes, that gurgle might be accompanied with a foul odor, as gases are able to seep back into your home due to the blockage. To correct this, check the vent opening for damage or clogs.
Whooshing
Lots of people are familiar with the whooshing shower sound. This whoosh is a sign of mineral buildup that has formed inside your pipes or hot water heater. It’s a very common plumbing issue in the Chicago area in particular, as we have a high mineral content in our water supply. If you hear this sound, pay attention and talk to your plumber. Over time, this hard water can damage your pipes and lead to more serious plumbing issues.
Hissing
If you start to hear hissing, and you don’t own a cat, it’s likely coming from your plumbing fixtures. This is a sign that your water pressure is too high. You’ll want to have a professional come out to check this right away, as it will damage your pipes, not to mention increase your water bill due to huge amounts of wasted water.
When you start to hear strange noises coming from your plumbing, it’s always best to play it safe. Call our team of skilled professionals in, right away, to help identify and correct those lurking problems. Trust us, it will save you time, money and the headache in the long-run.
